What Opportunities Does 4S Offer for Global South Scholars?

Updated

4S (the Society for the Social Studies of Science) runs at least one clearly documented opportunity aimed specifically at scholars from or based in the Global South: an Assistant Editor call for its blog, 4S Backchannels. According to the 4S homepage, the call targets STS graduate students, postdocs, or early career scholars from/based in the Global South — especially Africa, the Middle East, and Asia — and the deadline listed is December 15, 2025. If you fit that profile and can commit to editorial work, this is the most concrete entry point described on the site.

The Backchannels Assistant Editor call

The homepage describes the role as part of a team that shares and disseminates STS news and research from or about the Global South, in the form of short academic writings. The stated expectations are:

  • Eligibility: STS graduate students, postdocs, or early career scholars from/based in the Global South (Africa, Middle East, Asia highlighted).
  • Core tasks: Contributing to dissemination of STS news and Global South research; encouraging potential authors to contribute.
  • Skills mentioned: Some editorial skills are expected, though the site does not specify a formal checklist.
  • Deadline shown: December 15, 2025.

The page does not state compensation, time commitment, or whether the role is remote or in-person. Treat those as open questions to raise directly with 4S rather than assuming.

Other Global South–relevant activity on the site

Beyond the editorship, the homepage shows content that signals ongoing attention to Global South scholarship:

  • A Backchannels post by Perseverence Madhuku on osteoarthritis in Zimbabwe, discussing tensions between biomedical, social, and personal understandings of ageing, immobility, and care.
  • The call for Assistant Editors explicitly frames the role around "research from/about Global South."

These are content examples, not separate funding or fellowship programs — the site as provided does not list additional Global South–specific grants or positions.

How to act on this

  1. Check the deadline against your calendar. The homepage lists December 15, 2025 for the Assistant Editor call. Verify it on the live site before preparing materials, since calls can be extended or closed early.
  2. Prepare an editorial-relevant pitch. Since the role involves encouraging authors and shaping short academic writings, be ready to describe your editing experience and your familiarity with STS debates in your region.
  3. Use the site's news section as your source of truth. The "Latest 4S News" area is where calls like this appear, alongside items such as the InterAcademy Partnership competitive grants call (deadline December 2, 2024) — a reminder that deadlines on the page span different years and should be read individually.

What the site does not tell you

The provided page evidence does not cover:

  • Whether the Assistant Editor role is paid or volunteer.
  • The expected number of hours per week or month.
  • Whether applications go through a form, email, or portal.
  • Any travel, membership, or conference requirement tied to the role.

For these, you would need to consult the full call page or contact 4S directly. The homepage alone confirms the opportunity exists, who it targets, and the deadline shown — not the full terms.